Photo: Apple
Thinking of buying a tablet for the holidays? The world’s top tech companies sure hope so. How much they’ll make up front from that purchase varies quite a bit, according to preliminary teardowns by IHS iSuppli.
Amazon Kindle Fire HD (Wi-Fi only/16 gigabytes)
Materials: US $165
Price: $199
Margin*: $34
Apple iPad Mini (Wi-Fi only/16 GB)
Materials: $188
Price: $329
Margin*: $141
Materials: $159
Price: $249
Margin*: $90
Materials: $260
Price: $499
Margin*: $239
Materials: $306
Price: $499
Margin*: $193
Materials: $271
Price: $599
Margin*: $328
*Less intellectual property, manufacturing, and other costs. Source: IHS iSuppli (Figures are rounded to the nearest dollar. Prices are as of 6 November 2012)
This article originally appeared in print as "The Cost of Christmas Tablets."